The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: gingercloverbramble on July 04, 2010, 12:23:50 pm

Title: Limping Mallard
Post by: gingercloverbramble on July 04, 2010, 12:23:50 pm
Our beautiful Mallard duck is limping and struggling to move any distance.
I have checked her leg and there are no breaks.  When I hold my hand under her good leg, she pushes against it.  When I hold my hand under the bad leg, she doesn't do anything.  Can't determine if it is her leg or her foot.
Our ducks are totally free ranging and cover a lot of ground during the day-walking up and down the hill to their pond etc.  She is quite a heavy bird (compared to the Runners) and I am thinking she has maybe just twisted her leg or something?  We have isolated her (with another of the females) in a shed with lots of straw and food and access to a small area outside.  We put her in there last night but I think she's a bit worse this morning?!  Not quite sure what else I can do for her?!
Title: Re: Limping Mallard
Post by: doganjo on July 04, 2010, 11:12:47 pm
Keep her totally restricted in a box - no access to outside.  Leave plenty water very close and food too(So she can stretch out to it rather than actually come out of her box.  Check her tomorrow - it might be a break.  You could splint it - I've done that with success.  Two pieces of stick cut just shorter than the leg, bind together with tape of some sort, I just used masking tape, stayed on long enough.  Good luck